The Tarot Garden: Niki de Saint Phalle----The Tarot Garden Paperback – Illustrated, 1 Jan. 2003

Brilliant for adults and children of all ages, and great fun. We've travelled from the UK twice now to visit it. The cafe/bar new to us since the last time we visited 12 years ago is a welcome addition. We took our granddaughters age 16 and 18 and they thought it was the highlight of their Italian holiday.

I'd give it so many more than 5 stars, I totally love this book!Its release was a bit delayed, but I've just received it now, and it was well worth the wait.It gives a true insight into her work, how she built this amazing project, with stories from all the people who worked with her.There are amazing full spread photos of the progress of each statue over the years.Great read & great inspiration for all.

Driving along the Via Aurelia under a baking Italian sky, you may catch a glimpse of brightly coloured shapes glittering amongst the olive trees and wonder whether a pleasure garden or a theme park lies in the dark Tuscan wood.Actually, it's a combination of both - a fabulous sculpture garden by artist Niki De Saint Phalle. The artist's theme? The archetypes of the Major Arcana.This 23 year-long project started work in the late 1970s, but truthfully, she had been building it in her imagination since 1955 when she first saw Antoni Gaudi's Park Guell in Barcelona. She said: `That day I met my destiny. It changed my life. I felt like Saint Paul who had seen the light! It was clear....that I too was meant to build a garden of joy.'Year upon year, brick upon brick, mirror upon mirror, the characters of the Major Arcana slowly took shape and blossomed upon the hillside at Capalbio. Fashioned in re-inforced concrete, decorated with brilliantly hued hand-fired tiles, the Empress and her fellow archetypes absolutely rule this small rocky hillside.Benteli's 250 page book is packed with colour and black & white plates showing the development of Niki's concepts from drawings on the page right through to gleaming, glittering mirrored icons.This is not really a biography of the artist - although there are tantalising biographical glimpses that illustrate her reasoning, her choices and her outlook on life. There are many books (and posters) about Niki available from on-line book stores (no names, no pack drill, but you know the one I mean!)I confess that I didn't immediately recognise a few of the archetypes - Niki was an artist and takes artist's freedoms with the traditional imagery of the Tarot (for example, the Magician is stripped back to a head and a heaven-pointing hand....and sits square on top of the High Priestess!) - but the book's commentary helps unravel her creative processes.De Saint Phalle did not work alone. As well as a team of craftsmen, she worked closely with her soul mate and ex-husband Jean Tinguely (a respected artist in his own right). The book gives an impression of not so much a team effort to create this garden, but a family effort. The Tarot Garden was completed in 2003, a year after the artist died.This is the perfect book for any Tarot-lover in your life. Equally, anyone with a penchant for Gaudi-inspired artwork would adore it.I would suggest that the perfect partner for this book is a couple of air tickets to Italy to see The Tarot Garden for yourselves! If you can't fly there, why not visit The Tarot Garden website instead:[...]

The uncompleted Tarot Garden in Italy, work of the sculptor Niki de Saint Phalle has great charm and idiosyncrasy. Inspired by Gaudi's Parc Guell in Barelona, Niki set out to create a unique world based on the Tarot. She stamped her own personality on using mosaics in sculpture. This monograph was planned by the artist before her untimely death. The photographs were chosen by her and it gives an insight into her world, her imagination and her creative processes. I find Niki one of the most inspiring of all artists whatever she turned her hand to, and this garden stands as an ever-lasting monument to her work. The book does her justice - a beautiful large format tome that is more than just a coffee table book. The photography is very good with brilliant colour reproduction. The accompanying text is not over-long but apt and to the point. A masterpiece on a woman who created so many masterpieces. This review first appeared on Karen Platt's book review website.

Colourful, creative, impressive & inspiring! I haven't seen these cheerful monuments in a live but after I got this picture book I'm determined to go and see them myself. Very cheerful and positive atmosphere these figures creates.